Cebu and Davao

[GypsyT]

Any comments, pros and cons?

I'm ready to go check out both.

Manila is too noisy, crowded, ugly, dirty and boring after 10 days. Time to move on and find beauty of many islands.

However, Pinoys/Pinays are great even in Manila. I like people here; so friendly, easy to talk - 90% speak good English!

 

 

[Harrisfan]

Too dirty after 2 days. Good luck. 

[Olmate]

14 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Too dirty after 2 days. Good luck. 

You, too many dumb replies to multiple posts after 20 minutes,cred minus.. zero. good.bye! lol 😭

[Harrisfan]

2 minutes ago, Olmate said:

You, too many dumb replies to multiple posts after 20 minutes,cred minus.. zero. good.bye! lol 😭

Not your topic sook. Minus zero does not exist 

[wavodavo]

11 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Too dirty after 2 days. Good luck. 

I haven't been to Cebu for 10 years and it was ok then but I hear that it is choked with traffic now  much like Manila. As for Davao I have not been there yet although I want to because I could not get anybody to go with me. I offered to pay all expenses to my wifes relatatives...brothers , father , uncles ,neighbours ,   to go with me  but no takers.They all said too dangerous but I believe its very nice there but you will need a couple of armed bodyguards if you go .Good luck.

[scubascuba3]

I'd like to try Davao City. Deep Seek likes it

[GypsyT]

I was looking for personal recent info. I don't pay attention to governments advice.

 

This morning I visited Makati Catholic South grave yard. One of the strangest place I ever have seen.

It's 400 meters from "TRUMP Tower" 🙂 in Century City.

100s of poor homeless people live there among dead. Big families, kids of any age to 100+ yrs old.

They have food shacks making grub, selling stuff and kids playing interesting games. I asked to see and they gave me great show. Kids are kids even in grave yard and happily playing.

Built in tombs are housing people now. Very ecological and green - no wasted place or buildings,

I had one pen friend from Cebu. She said she's living "among the dead in grave yard and selling candles". She said I can't come to visit because I'd be in shock...

Now I know why.

I am not in shock. I saw worse in Rio, Guatemala and Peru.

 

 

 

[Rick45]

Cebu and Davao are crowded, ugly, dirty and boring also--Just slightly less so than Manila. 

 

The only reason to go to any city in the Philippines is for the women.  You will find Manila much better for meeting women than either of those two.  Cebu would be the worst for that because there are quite a lot of foreigners there, so you will have a lot more competition, and the girls are a bit wiser.

 

If you want to see the beauty of the Philippines you will need to get out of the cities.  

 

 

[grumpyoldman]

In my van ride from Puerto Princesa to Port Barton,  guy sitting next to me talked up Bohol and Moalboal.

[BillyBid]

2 minutes ago, grumpyoldman said:

In my van ride from Puerto Princesa to Port Barton,  guy sitting next to me talked up Bohol and Moalboal.

They aren't bad.  Both get a lot of tourists.  

 

Bohol has direct flights from Korea, so is packed with Korean tourists.  

 

Moalboal used to be great for diving, but the reef is all dead now, so it's not worth going to for that anymore.  There are a couple of nice waterfalls nearby, the beach is just ok and busy.

 

Palawan where you are is nicer.  El Nido was great when I first went there 10 years ago, but I'm sure very busy now.

[BillyBid]

9 minutes ago, grumpyoldman said:

In my van ride from Puerto Princesa to Port Barton, 

 

Post a few pics of port barton if you can.  I'm curious what it looks like now.  I was last there 10 years ago.

[grumpyoldman]

On 3/12/2025 at 6:21 PM, BillyBid said:

 

Post a few pics of port barton if you can.  I'm curious what it looks like now.  I was last there 10 years ago.

After 10 years many places get discovered and busier. I lived in Phuket for 11 years, and the influx of 200K Russians in the last 10 have spoiled the place. One poster bangs on about how happy he is in an inner part of the island and going to the malls. Live inland on a tropical island stay behind gates in a house and go to a mall........no thanks.

 

I'm sure Port Barton is 100% more busy than when you were there. But is still a nice somewhat quiet place. I had a great time.

[grumpyoldman]

Don't know why my sunset photo came in upside down

[TopThai54]

Well you might as well stay in Manila because Cebu City and Davao are the same crap ! Big Cities, dirty, poverty, pollution ! I have been to both and hated it ! What about Iloilo which for me was the most surprising City, clean, organized traffic and modern City ! I lived 2 years in the PH but due to the poor infrastructure (hospitals, dentists) I moved to Hua Hin, Thailand and am extremely happy here ! Oh, forgot the food...terrible in the PH...Thai Food fantastic and much healthier ! Good Luck ! 

[grumpyoldman]

Is it possible for a moderator here to flip my Port Barton sunset photo so that it is not upside down? Thx! GOM

[Nid_Noi]

On 3/15/2025 at 10:21 AM, grumpyoldman said:

After 10 years many places get discovered and busier. I lived in Phuket for 11 years, and the influx of 200K Russians in the last 10 have spoiled the place. One poster bangs on about how happy he is in an inner part of the island and going to the malls. Live inland on a tropical island stay behind gates in a house and go to a mall........no thanks.

 

I'm sure Port Barton is 100% more busy than when you were there. But is still a nice somewhat quiet place. I had a great time.

 

We spent New Year in Port Baton 20 years ago.

The municipal generator worked from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm except for the 31st of December where it was switched off at 1:00 am.

The party was in the local school yard. Best lechons of Palawan.

El Nido was still a quiet place. We stayed at the Miniloc resort where the water was crystal clear.

[georgegeorgia]

I like to buy a gym in the Philippines 

I do like Cebu although not the city part